BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Apr 08 - 12:46 AM

ON the other hand, network tv comes through with a gem once in a great while. I just watched the season finale of Eli Stone and it was fantastic. No violence, no raunchy language, no gratuitous sex, though there are some attractions going on, and a great cast with Jonny Lee Miller (The Flying Scotsman, Hackers, and Trainspotting) as the main character. It is truly an uplifting, funny, sad, poignant, and thoughtful show and well worth watching.

Sorry, Art, I know this is a movie thread, but just had to mention that.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: topical tom
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 11:38 PM

Films that I cannot watch, let alone easily, are those that contain gratuitous and/or graphic violence.I also cannot bear to watch films involving children suffering or in desperate need or victims of violence.
   I did watch a movie recently and, though the premise and plot were modern and the situations well-acted and realistic (the implication of the CIA in the torture of suspected terrorists) I could not stand to watch the violence and torture even though I knew it was only staged.
   Truthfully, I am hard put to find a good,enjoyable movie today. I guess age has caught up with me.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Bert
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 11:06 PM

The Ring is kinda fun if you don't take it too seriously.

But then I never take scary movies too seriously.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 11:04 PM

I remember the wife and I loved the movie "Babe." When the sequel, "Babe, A Pig in the City" came out, we went to see it, too. Well, I came away from that movie thinking that bringing a youngster to see it was tantamount to child abuse; all those animals being abused, one even suspended in the river or lake or something. We nearly walked out on that one.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Grab
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 09:48 PM

For me, it depends whether I can care about the characters I'm watching, and whether what's happening is an important part of the story they're telling. If so, then fine. So no problems at all with Night of the Living Dead, or Event Horizon, or Aliens, or 28 Days Later. Or on a less horror note, Con Air or Die Hard.

But Goodfellas was kind of pushing it for me, because frankly I wanted the lot of them shot for the good of the world as a whole - I don't see the point in making films celebrating scum. Seven, I couldn't stand another minute of Brad Pitt failing to act. GI Jane, the end scene of gratuitously invading a foreign country and shooting their people (whilst presenting this as a victory) left me sickened. Aliens 3 and 4 were just an excuse for having people eaten by rubber-suit creatures. For non-horror ones, having just seen the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I could happily drop the Great Glass Elevator and its cargo of monsters into the nearest Voracious Knid. And I'm entirely with Wesley about the battle-of-the-sexes crap.

I don't mind films which I can't watch again. Event Horizon is one such. I found it great, but it was so disturbing that I couldn't face it twice. Still, I'm very glad I saw it. I've not seen NBK, but I guess it might fall into the same category. Taxi Driver certainly did, as did Apocalypse Now.

Re your line: "That crap can't be good for kids and some adults to see". It certainly isn't good for kids to see, which is why there's film certification and rules about how old kids have to be to see stuff. But the point of being an adult is that you're supposed to be able to make decisions about whether you want to watch this stuff or not.

And FWIW, I quit my reading of the Iliad after multiple pages of "X kills Y like this" and handing slave girls round as commodities. Plus ca change...

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 09:19 PM

Two movies that I thought were excellent but I don't think I can watch again are Raging Bull and Reservoir Dogs.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Deckman
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 08:50 PM

I simply WILL NOT ... no, make that CAN NOT watch any violance of any kind. I was raised in a home where extreme violance was a common occurance. The last film I saw in a movie house was "On Goldon Pond." I barely remember that we, as a family of five, went to the theater showing of "JAWS" As the tenion started to build, I simply stepped into the aisle and left. I was surprised and delighted to meet my youngest son in the lobby. Without a word to anyone, he also had decided on his own that he didn't need that shit.

We were in a mall and we had a delightful hour and a half, having all kinds of ice cream and watching people. We still talk about that day as one of our best. Bob Nelson ... movieless in Everett ... and not missing it a bit!

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 07:46 PM

Carol is off to a meeting tonight, so I think I'll watch another film from the pile. This one is called "The Ring" --- The sleeve is missing so I have no preconceptions.

Will be back later.

Art

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 07:03 PM

"Liquid Sky. Really, really unpleasant for me despite being (also IMO) well-made."

I found that one witty and rather charming in its odd way. Something like a collaboration between William Burroughs and Douglas Adams. I'd love to see it again.

The most nauseating film I can remember seeing in many years was Peter Greenaway's "A Zed and Two Noughts". Revoltingly violent misogyny and ruling-class smugness mixed up with twee pretentious jokes about art history. I can't imagine why anybody ever gave Greenaway the money to make it, or bothered distributing it. (Whereas the gore in Jodorowsky's "Santa Sangre" didn't bother me at all).

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 06:27 PM

Speaking of Goodfellas...that was one I could not stomach all the way through. Just couldn't. Accordingly, I did not see the part where Joe Pesci gets shot, and I probably never will. I gave up on that movie not too long after he beat the other guy to death in the bar and they took his body out to the woods to bury it.

I thought, "Do I want to see any more of this subhuman, sickening shit about these worthless people?" The answer was, "No".

I can't relate to it, and I don't want to. For the same reason, I quit watching the Sopranos after seeing one too many scenes of women being beaten to death by similar subhumans.

I could relate very much, however, to the sharp and very surrealistic satirizing of some of the more bizarre present social and media attitudes in Natural Born Killers.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 05:18 PM

Sometimes violence are intrinsic in making the film.   Most of the Coen Bros. films it is a central point---and, I feel, are good films. Perhaps my hang-up is more with the language in many films. The claim is it is realism. It is. Yet, I think of Shakespeare on stage or in film---violence but lyrical language that still speaks to you.

For violent and yet lyrical filming Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet and Henry V are not to be missed. HIs Henry V is so different than Olivier's---as is his Hamlet. Both artists have presented great interpretations but Branagh has the advantage of more technological improvements in filming---and also made an anti-war Henry V as opposed to Olivier's pro-war one---filmed just around WW2.

On a joyful note one should not miss the wonderful recent film--Waitress. Sadly the filmaker and star was murdered prior to its release. Another winner is Little Miss Sunshine and also, I add, Thank Your For Smoking.

An aside ---if you watch Thank You For Smoking you will find a lot of staging very similar to the long ago film The Hucksters.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 04:16 PM

Years ago I watched a couple of films that surprised me, because it took a little while to understand or remember the context. Often times the message of a film is in your face the whole time. It wasn't with these two:

Zardoz with Sean Connery. Sex and violence. The thing to remember--it is a farce.

Rollerball with James Caan. The violence is crucial to the film, but it took a while to realize where it was going. Sometimes a man should be an island.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: GUEST,weelittledrummer
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 04:10 PM

always makes me jump when Joe Pesci gets shot in Goodfellas...

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 03:50 PM

I rarely watch more than the news and the weather channel. But....

IF the violence in a film is necessary to film, IF the language is appropriate for the film, IF the nudity and sex is necessary for the film, then yes. Otherwise, no.

To explain: A war film, be it "Hamburger Hill" or "Porkchop Hill" or "Sands of Iwo Jima" or "All Quiet On The Western Front" will have, by its subject matter, violence in it. A film on the Capone years in Chicago will have violence. Both genres could very well have sex, nudity, and language issues as well. In fact, I would expect it. I would not expect more than is necessary, however (and the last scene in "Hamburger Hill" is just plain haunting).

I would NOT expect to see sex in a "Harry Potter" film (although there's plenty of violence, it's placed in the realm of fantasy). Nor would I expect The Little Mermaid to say "Fuck you, Jack!" Context is all.

Which is probably why I haven't even hooked up my DVD player or gone to a movie since Harry Potter 2.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 03:49 PM

The films I can't watch easily are the ones that I want to see but the studios can't decide when to release them. Or because the first week doesn't go well they pull them never to be seen again. If small-minded reviewers get their hands on and savage films that have modest openings instead of big film festival premiers, those films may never see the light of day.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 03:33 PM

I remember quite vividly my reaction as a little kid to "Old Yeller" -- I bawled my eyes out. Never could watch the end of "Bambi" either -- or listen to the B-side of the 45 rpm record of "Bambi" -- and I have no desire to see either of them again. Just too sad. And I've never cried easily, even as a child. Nope. Don't wish to subject myself to that again -- even at age 58.

Kid movies can be painful, too, even without graphic sex or violence.

The world can be a depressing enough place without being depressed by what is supposed to be entertainment.

I haven't watched television since 1983 (except select shows on tape). I also don't need to see the violence and gore that's in the evening news -- newspapers or on-line in moderation and only when I choose to view.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: *Laura*
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 03:32 PM

This Is England.

I thought it was a GREAT film, in filmmakers terms.... but I felt soooo weird and unsettled after watching it. (partly how i know it's good... it affected me.) but I don't think I'll be watching it again....

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 03:32 PM

Woody Allen films after "Annie Hall", with the exception of "Zelig" and "Radio Days". I just have no sympathy for his self-absorbed and over-analyzing characters.   I really don't care what happens to these people as there is no connection with humanity.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Bert
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 03:22 PM

...little kid loses his mom, right away...

I guess they could have cut that out and it wouldn't have affected the story at all.

But I lost my mum when I was a kid so it didn't seem too unreal for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 03:04 PM

TCM, yes!

Linn, I wondered if I am the only one who hasn't seen Schindler's List. I just can't take crying so much, any more and I know it would make me cry a lot.

Morgan's current pick for children's movies is the one and only movie I own, Thomasina. We both absolutely adore it and have watched it numerous times. My dau. and I don't recommend Nemo. We thought it was really awful in that, once again, the little kid loses his mom, right away...the Bambi Syndrome, but much more realistically done in that kids relate more to things like that than we did, imo. Esp. if they have a single parent. In fact, I find most modern kids' movie to have too much violence in them; or maybe it's the violence seems more realistic, I don't know, but I don't like all of the violent action in a lot of them.

katgrandma

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 02:52 PM

Little Hawk,
Once was enough for me for N.B.K. It was enough to take note of the skill with which it was made. And Robt. Downey jr. was a treat to watch. Two thirds of the dialogue he and Tommy Lee Jones uttered was intentionally unintelligible, but that played up the fact that much of what is being said is not worth listening to anyhow. But we get the gist o' it just the same.

Art

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: M.Ted
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 02:46 PM

I'm with John on the Sunset Coast--TCM is my main source for movies--our cable box has DVR, so I have a fair backlog of stuff to chose from, as well. For our kids, pretty much either animation or musicals. Our little girl is particularly sensitive to violence of any sort, so we have to be particularly vigilant.

There are a couple of online sites where you can download old movies that are in the public domain--I found this out by accident, when I installed a program called Miro, which started automatically downloading them. I've just watched "The 39 Steps", and "Royal Wedding"--the files are small, so you have to watch them in "Dinkyvision", but hey, it's free!

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 02:23 PM

It depends on the psychology of the film for me, I guess...what it's got to say. I could relate to Natural Born Killers because I could relate to what it had to say. (I've seen it 3 times.) I could follow what Oliver Stone was trying to say about society in that movie and I thought it had value. He made many good points about what's going on in the media and in people's heads these days.

I cannot relate to most other films which contain the kind of horrible, sadistic, graphic violence in Natural Born Killers, because I in no way relate to anything they're trying to say. They're not trying to enlighten anyone in most cases, they're just trying to exploit people's appetites for sensationalism and revenge fantasies.

I also don't really want to see films that leave me horribly depressed at the end...though I can make the odd exception, I guess, if the subject matter really interests me...and again, if I can strongly relate to what the movie is trying to say...and I think it's something of value.

So it isn't the violence itself, per se, the visual images themselves, that concern me...but rather the meanings conveyed by the movie. If the movie is saying something I find meaningful to me in a valuable way...then I can tolerate the violence.

I would not, however, want any child to be exposed to what's in Natural Born Killers. Children should not have such images inflicted on them at all, because they're too emotionally open and vulnerable at that age. It's bound to do them some damage.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 02:03 PM

I guess I've just reached a point in life where I don't want to see "entertainment" that is fulll of gratuitous violence (explosions, car chases, gory murders, etc -- all aimed, I think at 17-24 year old guys), depressing or disturbing. If I don't feel reasonably good after watching it, I really wish I hadn't wasted my time.

Unfortunately, some films that fall into those categories are really good films. "One-Hour Photo" was very, very good, but really disturbing. It was also a stunning role for Robin Williams. But, ya know what? I will never watch it again -- ever. I also just recently watched "Schindler's List" which I had been avoiding because it falls into the "depressing" category. Well, with some hope because of the people saved from the camps. Exquisitely filmed, wonderfully acted, well written. I might even consider watching it again sometime, but I doubt it. (Too many films; not enough time.)

"Usual Suspects" -- very violent, but very well crafted film. But again, I probably won't ever willingly watch it again.

All of these I watched recently so I could Freecycle the DVD or videotape. Tom and I are film magnets, but I'm trying to de-accession. (Cubic footage! Cubic footage!) But I'm compulsive and have to watch them before I find new homes for them.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Wesley S
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 02:01 PM

The other type of movie that bothers me is the ones that have an unrealistic love story. The "I hate you, I hate you, we have nothing in common, we argue all the time - but now that I've stopped and looked deeply into your eyes lets kiss and live happily ever after" Doris Day type films are the ones I'm talking about.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 01:54 PM

Liquid Sky. Really, really unpleasant for me despite being (also IMO) well-made.

And the first time I saw One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, I started crying towards the end and couldn't stop, I had to be led out at the end by someone who could see. Now, I like the movie... but I had thought it was a comedy, and was unprepared for the ending.

But I still don't like meanness in movies. Violence I can deal with, but not meanness.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Bert
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 01:48 PM

I agree Art.

Fortunately we have two grandkids in our house
and we get to watch childrens movies over and over again.

It's much better watching Peter Pan or Cars or Monsters Inc. or Finding Nemo repeatedly than that violent crap.

Currently they are in a "Mr. Limpet" session and we're only on showing two. So we have a few more days of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 01:44 PM

Me, too, Art! I wanted to watch a couple of recent ones, Apocalypto for one, because they sounded very good, well made and all, but what was reported about the violence, guts, blood, and gore was something I have no use for. There is a way to tell these stories with finesse and implication without rubbing it in our noses.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 01:43 PM

Art, we rarely see recent films...maybe one current film a year. Neither Mrs. JotSC nor I like movies which have excessive foul language, graphic gender or nudity, and gratuitous explosions and quick cuts in the action. And don't get me started on the cost of movie tickets, even for seniors. I say thank you to TCM.

As to your comment on censorship, hooray for you. Everyone should be their own censor as to what they'll tolerate in their own home. If you choose to destroy or dispose of your own property, all well and good.

Subject: RE: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Wesley S
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 01:43 PM

I get the creeps any time a little kid is in danger. And there seem to be a lot of those these days.

Subject: BS: Films I just cannot watch easily!!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 01:27 PM

Recently, our son and his wife gave us five huge shopping bags stuffed with films on video cassette. They were getting rid of their TV. Now, that is something we can fully understand; we did that a good 8 years ago----except for NETFLIX -- where we can pick and choose from the cream of the crop.

First, you must understand that NO TV PROGRAMS can reach us "through the air" here in Peru, Illinois---so if you don't have cable, you get NOTHING at all. We listen to the Cubs and white Sox and Blackhawks on the radio.

Also, Carol won't watch r-rated films. Those are too much for her! Anything less than PG-13 I can endure---but barely--only if it's a great film

I was really happy to get all these films I'd not watched before from Chris. Watching them has been an education, as ALL of them are really WELL MADE.

Here's the RUB. Folks, I was NOT ready for the action violence and graphic blood. I could grasp that
Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers was a brilliantly made film; BUT it was quite SICKENING.

That crap can't be good for kids and some adults to see!!!
We live in a HUD building where four fifths of us are walking wounded of some sort---either physically, mentally, what-have-you. I generally take the videos down to our lobby for others in the building to watch if that is their wont! But today I put four of the films down the garbage chute----a form of censorship,
I guess.

There is NO WAY IN HELL that I'd want to inflict Natural Born Killers, Con Air, and others, on these people. That is a simple fact!!

How do other Mucatters draw their own lines? What films do you really dislike because of stuff like this they've got in them?

I did watch most of them once all the way through--- so I could make a judgment. Some few I even kept to watch again. But not many.

Art Thieme